Machine for counting votes



TSheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 28, 1928 INVENTOR.

April 11, 1939.

MACHINE FOR COUNTING VOTES Original Filed July 28, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 m w h w n t m INVENT'OR Ma Q BY diuf April 11, 1939. Q s M MACHINE FOR COUNTING VOTES Original Filed July 28, 19 28 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR m J April 11, 1939. c. SIMEK I MACHINE FOR COUNTING VOTES Original Filed July 28, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 0000000000 OOOOTQQOOOO 00 0000000 MO OOOOOOOO .INVENTUR April 11, 1939. c. SIMEK' 2,154,316

MACHINE FOR COUNTING VOTES Original Filed July 28, 19 28 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 lIX April 11, 1939.

c. SIMEK MACHINE FOR COUNTING VOTES Original Filed July 28, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 ROTAYI 0 N April 11, 1939. I EK 2,154,316

' MACHINE FOR COUNTING vows Original Filed July 28, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 an "1 w .s. us A am n INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 11,. 1939 UNITED srAT- s 2,154,318 MACHINE FOB VOTES Charles Simek, Chicago, 111.

' Claims.

The invention relates generally to a machine for automatically counting votes and more particularly it relates to a machine which is adapted simultaneously to count a plurality of votes which have been cast or indicated upon a particular ballot. r

Heretofore it has been customary in voting to indicate the selection of candidates by making marks upon the surface of the ballot and in order to determine the total number of votes cast for each candidate it has been necessary to examine each ballot and call of! the names of the candidates indicated so that the votes may be entered upon a talley sheet by the clerks under the names of the candidates for whom the votes were cast.

It is of course well known that this system lends itself to the commission of many fraudulent acts and it is the general object of the present invention to provide a device by which the voter's selection of candidates. may be taken mechanically from the original ballot and these votes introduced mechanically into a counting mechanism which will indicate the number of votes cast for each individual candidate on the ballot.

Another object is to provide a machine having a plurality of separate counting mechanisms, one for each candidate or proposition to be voted upon, together with new and improved means for transmitting an actuating power impulse to said counting mechanisms in accordance with physical indicia such as alterations placed upon a ballot by a voter.

Another object is to provide such a machine having automatically operable means of an improved character for positioning ballots in the machine one at a time so that the votes indicated thereon may be counted by said machine.

Another object is to provide such a mechanism having a safety device thereon operable to prevent actuation of the counting mechanism in case a ballot becomes improperly positioned in the machine or in case the supply of ballots to be counted has become exhaused.

Another object is to provide such a device having a number of mechanisms at which actuating power impulses may be taken from the ballots and these actuating impulses from the plurality of stations introduced into a device having a singie counter for each candidate or proposition.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

a Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational rlglnal application July 28, 1928, Serial No.

295.86.. Divided and this ber 20, 1934, Serial No.

application Septem- 744,867

view partially in section of a machine embodying the preferred form of the invention. 1

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the portion of the machine shownin Fig. 1.

Fig. 1* is a fragmentary side elevational view of the machine which is shown in Fig. 1 and when taken together with Fig. 1 forms a complete side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2. is a fragmentary plan view of that portion of the machine shown in Fig.1

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 3" is an enlarged fragmental portion of the upper right hand end of Fig. 1'.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental portion of Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the card handling device, the view being taken partially in section taken in the plane of the line 5-5 of Fi 4.

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the card face I21 and the register block I 0.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the card handling member il, one portion being broken away to show the interior construction thereof.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the card handling member l1 shown in Fig. 8.

Figs. 10 to 1'7 are detail views showing the various positions of the card handling member I! relative to the compartments in which the cards or ballots are stored;

Fig. 18 is arr elevational view partially in section of the pistons and the control mechanisms of the counting device.

Fig. 19 is an end elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 18 and 19.

Fig. 21 is an end elevational view partially in section of a remotely positioned registering device which is adapted to be associated with the counting mechanism 0.

Fig. 22 is a plan section through the cylinder block I which is shown in Fig. 18.

Figs. 23 and 24 are side elevational views ofv the gears used in the counting device.

Fig. 25 is a detail view of the pistons used in the control device which is associated with the counting mechanisms.

Figs. 26 and 27 are detail views of the ,clutch mechanism used in the counting mechanism.

Fig. 28 is a diagrammatic view showing the arrangement of the device 8 and the cylinders 2H.

Figs. 29 to 32 are detail views of the valve I04.

Figs. 33 to 35 are detail views showing the cam disks 24, 25, 25 respectively.

Fig. 36 is an end elevational view partially in section of the intermittent gearing used to drive the hollow shaft 14.

Fig. 3'7 is a view showing an alternative construction which may be used.

Figs. 38 and 39 are detail views of the voting block which is used to punch holes in the ballots l at the desired points.

Figs. 40 and a1 are detail views of the vote card or ballot 5.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment of the invention together with one alternative embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that this disclosure is given for the purpose of illustrating the invention and is not intended as a limitation of the invention to the construction disclosed. In the appended claims, I am to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the sc pe 0f the invention as limited by the state of the prior art.

General description It is believed that a general description of the principal parts of the device as embodied herein together with a general description of the relation of these parts to each other will lead to a better understanding of the operation of the device as a whole.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated herein, provide a plurality of ballot handling mechanisms or devices designated generally as A in Figs. 1, 1 2 and 2*, these ballot handling mechanisms being arranged in series so as to be actuated and controlled by a single motor operated device designated generally by the letter B in Figs. 1 and 2. The ballot handling devices A are operated so that the ballots supplied to each of the handling devices A are presented one at a time to a position wherein actuating power impulses are released by the alterations of the ballot which have been made by the voter and from which position these impulses are communicated to a single counting mechanism designated generally by the letter C.

The ballot or vote card The invention contemplates that with the particular vote counting machine illustrated herein, a comparatively small ballot will be used, such for example as shown in detail in Figs. 40 and 41. These small ballots or vote cards are preferable for the reason that they may be made of relatively heavy material so as to be adapted for rapid handling by the machine.

The ballot or vote card which is generally designated by the numeral l in Fig. 40 is preferably made up of a layer 35l of cloth fixed between two layers 35!], 352 of paper. The vote card i is in the present instance divided into a plurality of spaces 354 in each of which spaces a vote may be indicated by the elector.

Means for marking the ballots In the preferred form of the invention the preference or vote of the elector is marked upon the ballot by making a physical alteration in the particular space 354 which has been assigned to the particular candidate for whom the elector wishes to vote and to facilitate the proper marking of the vote card I, a voting block is provided which is shown in detail in Figs. 38 and 39. The voting block in its preferred form comprises a lower section 334 and an upper section 335, the lower section 334 having thereon a plurality of upwardly projecting pins 336 adapted to enter apertures 33! in the upper section 335 so that apertures 338 formed in the upper section 335 will be properly alined with apertures 339 formed in the lower section of the block. The pins 335 may also serve to properly position the voting card between the upper and lower sections of the block and to this end apertures 353 are formed in the vote cards I to be engaged by the pins 335. In order that the vote card I may be invariably positioned properly, the pins 336 and the apertures 353 are unsymmetrically positioned on the block and on the card respectively.

In the present instance I have also provided a rounded corner 356 on the vote card I which may be matched with a rounded corner 348 formed on the voting block. This serves as an additional check on the proper positioning of the vote card.

To secure the two sections of the block together screws 340 are positioned on the lower block with suitable winged nuts 34i thereon to engage lugs formed on the upper section 335 of the block. A punch 342 is provided which may be secured to the block as by means of a chain 346. The punch 342 is made substantially the same size as the apertures 338 and 339 so that the punch may be inserted in the apertures to shear holes in the vote card i at the desired points to indicate the voters selection of candidates.

After the indicia have been placed upon the voting cards by the electors the cards are gathered together to be placed in the counting machine which will be now described in detail.

The actuating and controlling mechanism B The ballot handling mechanism A In the preferred form of the invention the actuating power impulses are taken or released from the vote cards I and transmitted to the counting mechanism C by means of compressed air and means is provided in each of the handling mechanisms A to present the cards one at a time in proper position for the taking of such impulses. This means for presenting the cards preferably comprises a hollow head I! which is formed integrally with a hollow shaft H which is rotatably and slidably mounted in bearings H formed in vertical frame members 12. The frame members I2 are connected by longitudinal braces I3], I32. The hollow head I! preferably comprises three radially extending portions equi-angularly spaced forming chambers ll (Fig. 4) separated froifi each other by webs 285 extending radially inward to the shaft I4. A register block 18 (Fig. 4) is mounted in the vertical frame member 12 and forms a definite sensing station at which the bevel gears 6 and 1.

cards may be positioned for the purpose of counting the votes marked thereon. This block I is located so that when one of the radial portions of the head I1 is in a vertical position, the outer end thereof will be opposite the registerblock or station I0. The outer end of each of the radial portions of the head I1 is formed so as to extend axially of the shaft I4 and the ends of all of the radial portions are arranged so as to lie in a plane perpendicular to the shaft I4.

The ends of each of the radial portions forms a flat card face I21 upon which a vote card I may be positioned and means is provided for holding a vote card on the card face I21. This means preferably comprises a pair of passageways I02 (Figs. 4 and 8) within each of the chambers I1 and the card head I1 and having their open ends positioned flush with the card faces I21 so that when they are connected to a source of suction or vacuum, the vote card will be drawnfirmly against the card face I21.

When one of the card faces I21 is alined with-- the sensing block or station I6, the other two are positioned in alinement respectively with a supply tray 300 and a storage tray 30I. In order to insure proper positioning of the vote cards I in the supply tray 300, a round corner 356 is provided in the lower corner of the tray 300 to receive a correspondingly round corner 356 formed on each of the vote cards I. Thus if a card is incorrectly positioned in the tray it will project upwardly from the other cards and will be readily noticed by the operator. I also provide a downwardly sloping cam member 293 (Fig. 12) on the top of the tray 300 which engages the tops of the cards I as they are fed outwardly of the tray 300, and serves to press them downwardly into proper position.

The card head I1 is connected to the actuating and controlling shaft 5 (Figs. 1 and 2) by means of a shaft 8 horizontally journalled in the frame 22 and continuously driven by the shaft 5 through The shaft 0 is geared to the hollow shaft I4 by means of gears 9 and I0 (Fig. 36) which transmit intermittent or step by step motion to the hollow shaft I4. Thus in the present instance the hollow shaft I4 is turned through one third of a revolution for each revolution of the shaft 8 and each of the card faces I21 is moved progressively step by step from the supply tray 300 to the block I8 and then to the storage tray 30I.

Means is provided for connecting the passageways I02 of a particular card face I21 to a source of suction during a portion of the revolution of the head I1 so that when the card face I21 is positioned in alinement with the supply tray 300 a vote card I will be taken therefrom and carried on the card face I 21 during the next one-third revolution of the head I1 into alinement with the register block or station I8. During the next one third revolution of the head I1, the card is similarly held. in place on the card face I21 so that it is moved into alinement with the storage tray 30I. At this point, the passage-ways I02 of the particular card face I21 are cut off from the low pressure source.

In the form shown herein this suction source comprises a pump I36 (Fig. 1) connected to the hollow shaft I4 by means of a member I 35 which slidably embraces the end of the shaft I4. Apertures I03 are formed in the hollow shaft so that passage-ways I02 may be connected to the lower pressure source as above described and to open and close the apertures I03 a valve member I04 'as shown in dotted outline at A in Fig. 31.

(Figs. 1-, 29, so, 31 and 32) is provided which is tubular in form and is slidably positioned within extending longitudinally within the hollow shaft I4. The rod 5| connected at one end to a slide block 34 mounted in the frame 22' of actuating deviceB and the slide and the rod 5| are caused to reciprocate by means of a follower 20 on the slide engaging a cam slot 365 formed in the upper surface of a cam disk 24 which is mounted on and rotates with the control shaft 5.

The valve I 04 has a valve opening 230 formed therein of the shape shown in Figs. 31 and 32 so that when one of the card faces I21 is about to take a vote card from the supply tray 300, the port I03 for that card face I21 will be positioned The valve I04 is then moved by the cam 24 to the position shown in Fig. 32 so that the port I03 indi cated at A will be opened and the vacuum will cause a vote card to be taken from the tray 300. It will be noted that the port indicated at C in Fig. 32 is closed at this time so that the vote card carried by the card face I21 associated therewith is released and is deposited in the storage tray 30I. When the head I1 is again rotated through one-third of a revolution, the valve I04 is moved (upwardly in Figs. 31 and 32) from the position shown in Fig. 32 back to the position shown in Fig. 31 so that the port I03 which is advancing from position B will be kept continuously open until it registers with portion 232 of the valve opening 230. Thus the card I on the card face I21 will be retained in position until the valve is again reciprocated as above described.

In order to provide for the proper positioning of the vote cards I on the card faces I21, for the taking of cards I from the supply tray 300 and for depositing the cards in the storage tray 30I, means is provided for imparting a definite reciprocatory movement to the card head I1 at the end of each advancing rotary movement thereof. In the preferred form this means comprises a slide 35 mounted on the frame 22 and connected by a follower 2 9 to a cam slot 366 formed in the lower surface of the cam disk 24. The cam disk 24 is shown in detail in Fig. 33. The slide 35 is connected to the hollow shaft I4 by means of an upstanding bracket 31 surrounding the shaft intermediate two spaced collars 30, 3| which may also serve as glands to permit relative sliding movement between the rod ,5I and the shaft I4.

The cam slot 366 is so arranged that when the card head I1 is moved away from the block I8, a vote card I is withdrawn from the supply tray 300 by the particular card face I21 which is alined therewith. To insure that only one card will be withdrawn, a plurality of lugs 294, 295 are positioned on the tray 300 so as to project inwardly of the end opening thereof, so that when the first vote card I is held on the card face I21 by the suction in passage-ways I02, the edges of the card will be bent as shown in Figs. 12 and 13. In the preferred form the lugs 295 are positioned at the top and bottom of the tray while the lugs 294 are at the sides thereof and the lugs 294 are made of less length so that the side edge of the card will be released first. During the movement of the succeeding card face I21 toward the tray 300, pins I I4 mounted on the card face enter the holes 353 inthe vote card I, thus properly positioning the card on the card face.

After a vote card. .I has been taken from the supply tray 30!! it is moved to the block l8 and from there to the storage tray 3! and to insure that the card will be deposited in the tray 30I, positive gripping means is provided which is preferably operated by the axial movement of the card head I1, to engage the edges of the vote card I. To permit the card face I21 to come into close contact with the block I8, apertures II5 are formed in the block to receive the pins H4.

The positive gripping means, above mentioned, is preferably of the character shown in detail in Figs. 14 to 16 and comprises a pair of hook members 212 pivotally secured on the opposite sides of the tray 30I so as to project inwardly of the end opening thereof. The hooks 212 are arranged to pivot simultaneously out of said end opening to permit the entrance of a vote card I into the tray 30I, this simultaneous pivoting being caused by levers 268 and 289 attached to the opposite hooks 212 and geared together heneath the tray. The hooks are normally maintained in position across the end of the tray by means of a spring 215 attached to one ofthe levers 269.

The means for pivoting the hooks 212 preferably comprises a plurality of arms I22 (Fig. 14) fixed on the head I1, one adjacent each card face I21, each arm I22 having a pivoted lug I25 thereon arranged so as to contact and move an arm during the movement of the head toward the tray 381. The arm 210 is fixed to one of the hooks 212 so that movement of the arm moves the hooks 212 out of the path of the vote card which is being carried toward the storage tray SDI by the card face I21. When the vote card I has been moved beyond the hooks 212, the lug I25 passes beyond the end of the arm 210, thus allowing the hooks 212 to swing inwardly so as to retain the card in the tray 30I. During the movement of the card face away from the tray, the lug I25 pivots against the force of a spring I24 and thus passes the arm 218 without disturb ing the hooks 212.

To permit positioning of the hooks 212 behind the vote card I at the card face I21, a plurality of grooves I20 are formed in the card head I1 on the sides of the card faces I21 into which the hooks 212 may project.

Means is preferably provided for maintaining the vote cards I in closely packed upright position in the trays 308 and 30I and in the preferred form shown in Figs. 16 and 17 this means comprises a carriage 211 mounted on top of each tray and movable longitudinally of the tray by a spring device 282 which rotates pinions 288 which are mounted on a transverse shaft 28I and which engage racks 284 along the top edges of the tray. Arms 218 extend downwardly from the carriage 211 to engage the face of the end card. A movable belt 288 mounted on rollers 281 and 288 may be provided to enable the cards to be more easily moved by the carriage 211.

It will be noted that the reciprocatory movement of the card head I1, as herein disclosed, is

of a positive nature, and to insure a firm clamping of the vote cards between the card face I21 and the block I8, means is preferably provided for applying a yielding force to the block I8 to urge it toward the card face I21. To this end the block I8 is mounted in the frame 12 for sliding movement limited by lugs 88 and 10 (Fig. 1) said movement being parallel to the shaft I4 and a rod 84 is slidably mounted in the frames 12 for applying such a yielding force to theblock I8 in each of the handling mechanisms A.

The sliding rod 84 as shown herein, is moved toward the card face I21 by the control device device B immediately after the card face has been moved toward and into close proximity to the block I8 by the reciprocatory movement of the shaft I4. This is accomplished by a lever 51 pivotally mounted at 83 on the frame 22 and pivoted at 85 to the lever 84. The lower end of the lever 51 is pivoted at 58 to a rod 52 which is reciprocated in the frame 22 by a slide block 38 having a follower 28 which engages a cam slot 381 formed in the upper surface of a cam disk 25 mounted on the control shaft 5. To reduce the wear on the cam groove 381, a spring 59 may be interposed between a washer 80 fixed on the rod 52 and the side of the frame 22.

The rod 84 yieldingly engages each of the blocks I8 by means of arms 81, one arm 81 extending downwardly from each rod 84 so as to connect with the related end face of each block I8. Preferably, springs 68 are interposed between the arms 81 and the blocks.

To identify those ballots which have been presented to the register block, a stamping device I I9 is positioned on the block I8 so that the ballots will be pressed against it by the card faces I21.

Transmission of actuating power impulses to counters Means is provided which is operable while a vote card I is positioned between the card face I21 and the block I8 to transmit actuating power impulses to a plurality of individual counters in accordance with the physical indicia placed on the ballot by the voter. In the preferred form illustrated herein these actuating power impulses are transmitted from the ballot handling mechanisms A to the counting mechanism C by means of air pressure and a suitable source of air pressure is provided at I34 connected by a pipe I83 to the several ballot handling stations A.

The air pressure is communicated at the proper time to the interior of the chamber I1 which happens to be adjacent to the block I8 and in order that pressure air may pass from the chamber I1 through the apertures formed in the vote cards I by the voter, a plurality of bores III (Fig. 5) are formed in the block I8, each bore III being connected to a counter by means of a tube I I8. In order to provide a tight connection about each aperture in the vote card I, an annular recess III) is formed (Figs. 6 and '7) about the passage H2 in the card head I1 and the vote card is pressed into this recess by a complementary annular bead I88 formed on the block I8 about each bore III'.

Thus it will be apparent that a blast of pressure air may pass from the chamber I1 through each aperture which has been formed in the ballot by the voter and that this blast of pressure air may be communicated to a suitable counting mechanism by the tube II8.

To communicate the air pressure from the pipe I33 to the chamber I1 at the proper time, a control device is provided operatively associated with main control shaft 5, which device preferably comprises a valve mechanism having a valve chamber 88 (Figs. 4 and '5) mounted on the frame 12 and interposed in controlling relation between thepipe I33 and a pipe 82 which leads to the chamber I1. A valve member 88 is fixed on a slidably mounted horizontal I I stem 9| so and be movable by said stem 1 connected to the valve rod 3I by an arm 95 which embraces the rod between two fixed washers 93.

The valve control rod 34 is'reciprocated in proper timed relation to the other parts of the machine by means of a pivoted connection with a slide 40 mounted in the frame 22 and reciprocated by a follower 23 which rides in a cam groove 339 formed in the upper surface of a cam disk 23 (Fig. mounted on the control shaft 5.

To permit of successive connection of the different chambers I1 with the source of pressure air,'the pipe 32 leads to a sleeve 30 mounted in the frame 12 above and parallel to the shaft I4 so as to project beyond the face of the frame toward the card head I1. A plurality of bores I23 are formed in the head I1, one communicating with each of the chambers I1 and these bores are so positioned that when the head I1 is moved longitudinally toward the register block I3, the bore I26 of the upper chamber I1 will slide over the sleeve 30 and thus form a connection through which pressure air may be communicated to the chamber I1.

The safety device To guard against the introduction of error into counters due to improper positioning of the vote card on the register block, or due to the lack of a vote card to be counted, means is provided'to prevent the passage of pressure air to the chamber I1 when the handling device A fails to supply a card or fails to properly position a card. This means is preferably operated by pressure air and is controlled by the control device B. To this end a second pipe 33 is connected to the valve chamber 36 and a valve 39 is operated in proper timed relation to the other parts by means of a slide rod 53 mounted in the frames 12 and operatively connected by a slide 33 having a follower 23 riding in a cam groove 338 formed in the lower surface of a cam disk 25 (Figs. 1 and 34).

The pipe 83 is connected successively to passages IOI positioned within the chamber I1, this connection being accomplished by a projecting sleeve 3I similar to the sleeve 30. The end II1 of each passage IN is located at the card face I21 of its particular chamber I1 so as to register with an aperture II6 formed in the sensing block I3 in such a position that it will be covered and closed by a vote card properly positioned on the block I3. Thus if a card is not in position between the block I3 and the card face I21, air pressure may be communicated from the passage IM to the aperture H3 and this aperture is connected by means of a pipe 13 (Fig. 4) to a valve device mounted in the frame 12. This valve device comprises a valve member 13 slidably mounted in a chamber 19 formed at the end of the pipe 32, said valve member being movable to prevent passage of air to the chamber I1. The valve 13 is normally held in open position by a spring 11 mounted ina bore 3" in the frame and is arranged to'be closed by the passage of pressure air through the pipe 13, this pipe being connected to the bore 31I so as to impinge upon a piston 13 mounted on the valve member 13.

The safety control valve 33' is arrangedto be opened by its controlling cam groove 333 just before the opening of the valve 33, and it will be apparent that in case a card is not in place on the block I3 so as to cover the aperture II3, the pressure air will pass through the aperture to actuate the valve 16 and close the passage to the chamber I1. Thus when the valve 39 is opened the pressure air cannot pass to the chamber I1 and hence an error cannot be introduced into the counters.

Ballot counting means Means is preferably provided for registering the number of ballots from which votes have been counted. In the present form this means comprises a counter 93 (Fig. 4) mounted on each frame 12 and connected by an arm 93 to a piston 91 slidably mounted in a bore 91 in the frame 12. The bore 31* communicates with the passage 32 by means of an opening I30 formed therein between the valve chamber 19 and the sleeve 30. Thus if the valve 13 is closed, the pressure air will not reach the opening I30 and the counter 39 will not be actuated. A spring I00 is provided to return the counter and the piston 91 to initial position after actuation.

A second passage 236 (Fig. 5) is formed in the frame I2, similar to the passage 31, and is connected to the passage 32 so as to receive air pressure each time pressure is introduced into the upper chamber I1. The passage 296 communicates with a second passage 291 controlled by a valve 365 and the passage 291 is connected with a sleeve I30 similar to the sleeve 30 arranged to enter the bore I26 of the chamber I1" which is positioned at the storage tray 30I. Thus a part of the pressure from the upper chamber I1 will be utilized to force the vote card I from the card face I21 into the storage tray 30I.

The counting mechanism Because of the fact that a plurality of ballot handling devices are employed,- from each of which power impulses may be transmitted to the single counter which is provided for each candidate, I preferably employ a counting mechanism of the type in which a control mechanism is set by an initial operation and the numbers introduced into the counters by a second operation, the'counters being actuated in accordance wit the setting of the. control mechanism.

Thus a plurality of control mechanisms may be provided for each counter, one of such control mechanisms for each ballot handling device A, and after the control mechanisms have been set by the power impulses communicated from the device A, the mechanism may be actuated to add the votes set on all of the control mechanisms into the counters. In the present instance these control mechanisms are arranged to be actuated from their inoperative to their operative positions by the compressed air impulses which pass from the register block or station I3 through the flexible tubes II3.

To this end the tubes II3 from all of the handling mechanisms A are carried by a frame I40 (Figs. 1 and 1a) and extend to a cylinder block I 44 mounted on the frame 12 adjacent the counting mechanism C. The cylinder block I 44 has a plurality of separate cylinders 2I1 (Fig. 18) formed therein and each cylinder is connected at 2I3 to one of the tubes H3. The cylinders 2I1 extend through the, cylinder block I and a piston 208 is slidably positioned in each of the cylinders so as to be forced longitudinally outwardly of the cylinder when air pressure is communicated thereto through its tube m.

Each of the pistons 208 is connected to a rod 204, and these rods are slidably supported in a plurality of vertical frame members 2 I I.

Each of the rods 204 has a projection 208 formed thereon which is adapted. when properly positioned, to engage a gear wheel I 88 which is mounted so that it may be moved past one of the positions of the projection 206. The rods 204 are held against rotation by means of longitudinal flat portions 205 formed thereon which abut suitable recesses in the vertical frame members 2I I. As shown in Figs. 18 and 19 the gear wheel I86 is mounted on a rotatable shaft 226 in a vertically movable frame member I84. One end of the shaft 226 has a bevel gear I8I fixed thereon in mesh with a bevel gear I88 which is slldably but non-rotatably secured on the vertical rod I90. The rods I90 are mounted in upper bearings 20I formed on a frame member I44 and by lower bearings I83 carried by cross bars 2I4 As shown in Fig. 3, each of the shafts I90 'extends upwardly and is arranged to transmit its rotary motion to a particular horizontal shaft 200, a plurality of shafts 200 being provided, one for each shaft I90. The shafts 200 are supported by the frame member 244. The shafts 200 are rotated by means of spiral gears I9I, I 92, and a oneway clutch member I95 so interposed that rotative movement in one direction only may be transmitted to the counters.

The details of the connection between the shafts I90 and 200 are shown in Figs. 19, 20, 26 and 27. The spiral gear I92 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 200 and has a clutch member I93 formed integrally therewith. This clutch member I93 is adapted to engage with a clutch member I94 which is mounted-for rotation with the shaft 200 and which is pressed into engagement with the clutch member I93 by a spring I95. The counter 242 is connected to the clutch member its through bevel gears I91, I98.

The use of such a one-way clutch device makes it possible to use the same counting mechanism for a number of groups of handling mechanisms such as are described herein. Thus in Fig. 3 I have shown the shafts 200 continuing to the right or transversely beyond the side of the frame III so that they may be connected by means of similar one-way clutch devices to another series of vertical shafts E90 which would, of course, be operated between the periods of operation of the shafts I90 illustrated herein.

The counters 242 are mounted on a panel 243 and are connected to the horizontal shafts 200. The projections 206 are so positioned on the slide 204 that when a rod is moved by the piston 208 the projection 206 will be moved to a position which lies in the vertical path of the gear wheel I86. The slide rods 204 for corresponding spaces on the different register blocks I8 are arranged in the same vertical tier and when any of these rods for corresponding spaces have been actuated, all of the projections 206 of the actuated rods will lie in the path of the gear wheel I86 so that the counter 242 connected to the particular gear To permit turning of the gear when it encounters the projection208 the portion 205 is recessed as at 201 so that the corners may project into such recesses during the turning movement of the gear.

As shown in Figs. 1' and 3, a plurality of frames I84 are provided, one of these frames being positioned between each row of supports 2| I and each of the frames carrying a plurality of gears I88 and means is provided whereby all of these frames I84 may be moved upwardly between the supports 2 past all of the slide rods 204. In the present instance this means comprises a frame I68 mounted for vertical sliding movement in the frame "I and having a cross bar I88. A plurality of upwardly projecting members I88 are positioned in the cross bar I 68 and one of the frames I 84 is mounted on the top of each one of the members I89.

Means is provided for moving the frame I88 upwardly in proper timed relation and this means is preferably associated with the main control shaft 5. In the present instance it comprises a lever centrally pivoted at I63 on a cross bar I64 near the bottom of the frame. The lower end of a link I66 is pivotally connected at I to one end of the lever I6I and the upper end of the link is pivoted to the frame I68 to I65. A counterbalancing weight I62 is positioned at the other end of the lever I69. To pivot the lever I6I and thus raise the frame I68, an upwardly projecting arm I60 is formed on the lever I6I and this arm is connected by means of a link I59 to a slide bar 55, this slide bar being connected by means of a slide 4I (Fig. l) and a follower 28 to a cam groove 310 formed in the cam disk 26. The cam slot 310 is shown in detail in Fig. 35 and is arranged so that the frame I68 will be raised to its elevated position immediately after the slide rods 204 have been actuated by the compressed air blasts from the registration block I8, thus causing the gears I86 to be turned for each piston rod 204 which has been moved.

In order that the gears I86 may not be rotated in the reverse direction during the downward movement of the frames I84, means is provided for returning the slide rods 204 to their normal or inoperative position while the frames I84 are in their elevated positions. For this purpose the ends 2I0 of the slide rods 204 are arranged so as to project beyond the end of the frame Ill and fixed washers 209 are positioned thereon to limit the movement of the bars toward the cylinder block I44. A pair of slide rods I54 are slidably mounted in brackets I56 on the frame parallel to and below the slide rods 204 and a member I55 is mounted on the ends of the slide rods I54 so that when the bars I54 are moved to the left in Fig. 1, the member I55 will engage the ends 2I0 of the slide bars 204 to move them to their inoperative position.

Means is provided for operating the slide rods I54 at the proper time and in the present instance this means comprises a lever I48 pivotally mounted at I49 on the frame I12. The upper end of the lever I48 is pivoted at I" to the slide bar 64 and at its lower end is pivoted to a link I50.

The link I50 is yieldingly connected to a bracket I63 which is connected to the slide bars I54 so that upon movement of the bar 64 to the right in Fig. 1*, \the member I55 will be moved yieldingly againstthe ends 2! of the rods 264 to move the displaced rods back to their normal inoperative positions. 1

Thus the counter control mechanism is again ready to receive actuating power impulses from the next series of vote cards which are positioned at the several register blocks or stations I3 by the subsequent movement of the card heads II of the ballot handling devices A.

In devices of this character there is a possibility of the various air passages becoming clogged and to avoid this undesirable result,

means is preferably provided to draw dust and refuse from the air passage. In the preferred form herein illustrated, this means comprises a plurality of vertical bores 2I6 (Figs. 18 and 22) formed in the cylinder block I44 and connected to the cylinders 2II by means of transverse bores 264. The vertical bores 2 I6 are connected to each other by a transverse passage 225 which is in turn connected by a pipe I31 to the low pressure source I36 (Fig. 1').

Means is provided for controlling the transverse bores 264 so as to open the same only between the periods when it is desired to transmit power impulses to the counters. This means in the present form comprises a plurality of valve sleeves 2I6, one positioned in each of the ver tical bores H3. The valve sleeves 2I9 having side apertures 223 which may be brought into and out of register with the transverse bores 264 by rotation of the valve sleeves. sleeves 2I6 are preferably mounted on shafts 22I which are geared for simultaneous rotation by means of gears 226 and 263. These gears are, in the present instance, actuated by a segment I15 mounted on one of the shafts 22I and which engages a circular rack I6 formed on a rod I which is connected to the end of the hollow shaft I4 (see Fig. 1*) so as to be reciprocated thereby. Thus the source of low pressure I36 will be frequently connected to all of the cylinders 2" and the tubes 6 so as to effectually clean dirt and refuse therefrom.

An alternative construction In Fig. 37 I have shown an alternative construction embodying three means for,detecting a mark on -a ballot so as to insure actuation of the counting device. These three means may be used singly or in combination as desired.

This structure is shown in connection with a card head II having a card face I21 with apertures II 2 therein which register with the apertures which may be formed in the vote cards I.

The apertures II2 also register with bores 3|! 7 formed in a register block 3I6, similar to the register block I6. Each bore 3Il is connected to a pipe 3| I, the extreme end of which hr uses a piston 3I2. A counting device 33I is provided having .a projecting shaft'329 which may be oscillated to actuate the counter and this shaft The valve that the plunger may be moved through anaper- I ture formed in a vote card I into contact with a metallic stop device 333 positioned with the chamber I'I The plungers 3I9 are yieldingly urged toward the stop 333 each time a vote card I is positioned on the register block 3"). This is accomplished by a member 32I slidingly surrounding all of the plungers and yieldingly connected thereto by a plurality of springs 320, one surrounding each of the plungers between the member 32I and a collar 3I9 on each plunger. The member 32I may be reciprocated by any preferred means such as my connection to the slide bar 54 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. a

The plungers 3I6 are returned to their initial position by engagement of the member 32I with collars 323 on the plungers during the return movement of the member 32 I. Each of the plungers 3I8 is connected to its particular counter by means of a lever 324pivoted intermediate its ends at 326. One end of the lever has a slotted pivotal connection with the counter operating arm 323 at 321 while the other end has a slotted pivotal connection with the plunger 3I8 at 325.

A third means is also provided for moving the arm 323 in accordance with the marking of a vote card I. This means comprises an electromagnet 3I4 arranged to attract an armature 3I3 connected to the end of the counter actuating arm 326 in such a manner as to actuate the counter.

The electromagnet 3I4 is connected by a wire M5 to the plunger 3I8 and an insulating sleeve 349 provided in the block 3III about the plunger 3I6. The other circuit of the magnet comprises a wire 3I6 leading to a suitable source 3 I4 and a wire 3I6 grounded to the block 3). Thus when the plunger 3I8 touches the metal stop device 333 at 332, the circuit throughthe magnet H4 is completed so as to actuate the counter 33I In Fig. 21 I haveshown mechanism whereby the totals accumulated in the counters may be displayed at a point remote from the counting mechanism C. As herein shown, the apparatus is electrically operated and an armature I 99 having a plurality of contacts 235 is secured on the shaft 206. Contact brushes 236 are arranged on opposite sides of the armature I99 so that each time a vote is introduced into the counter, an electrical connection will be made between the two contacts 235. Two wires 253 and 255, lead from the opposite contacts 236 to an electrically operated counting mechanism generally designated by the numeral 336'. The wire 255leads to a source ofcurrent 258 and a wire 259 leads to a relay switch 266 which is connected by means of'a wire 254 to an electromagnet 245 in the counting device 269, the wire 253 leading to the other side of the magnet.

Thus each time the contacts 235 and 236 complete a circuit the electromagnet 245 will be en-' ergized. The magnet 245 is arranged to actuate a counter 242 having an operating arm 252. The operating arm. 252 is connected by means of a link 243 to one end of an armature 24'! which is pivoted at its other end at 248. When the electromagnet 245 is energized, the arm 24'! is drawn downwardly to actuate the counter 242.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the invention provides means whereby the votes indicated on a ballot by a voter may be entered into a counting mechanism by means which is entirely mechanical and which therefore eliminates the personal element which has heretofore made possible the commission of numerous vote frauds.

It will also be apparent that the invention provides an exceedingly rapid means for determining the results of an election since it provides a number of mechanisms in which ballots may be rapidly handled by eiiicient mechanical means together with means for introducing the votes marked on the ballots handled at these several mechanisms into a single counting device. It will also be apparent that the machine herein described will serve to count votes much more economically than the'system now in use and that dueto this low cost, elections may be held more frequently to determine governmental questions.

It is contemplated thata system similar to that used by the United States Post Omce Department will be used for the purpose of distributing the ballots to the voters and for collecting the ballots after they have been marked. The economy and dispatch with which these two steps in an election may be accomplished, will readily be apparent to those familiar with the operation of the present postal system and when such a system of distribution and collection of ballots is used in connection with the vote counting machine herein described it will greatly reduce the cost and time necessary to conduct an election.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 295,860, flied July 28, 1928, issued April 23, 1935, as Patent No. 1,998,527.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vote counting mechanism for counting votes marked on ballots by physical alteration of the ballots, the combination of a plurality of sensing stations each embodying mechanism for handling a succession of ballots one by one, an analyzer at each of said stations for analyzing the marking of the predetermined; areas of the ballots at the several sensing stations, a summation mechanism having a plurality of counters, one for each of said areas of the ballots, governing means for said counters controlled by said analyzers, and means operable to actuate the counters and the several sensing stations in timed and coordinated relationship to insure accurate summation by said counters of the votes marked on all the ballots passing through .all of said sensing stations.

2. Vote counting apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a plurality of sensing stations each having means for handling a succession of ballots one by one, means at each of said stations operable to analyze the votes marked by physical alteration on said ballots, a common summation device for counting the votes marked on the ballots handled at all of said stations, said device having a plurality of counters and a plurality of control elements for each counter, means operatively connecting each of the control elements 01' each counter to the analyzing means of a diflerent one of said stations, and means synchronizing the operation oi said stations, said analyzing means and said counters.

3. A device 01' the character described comprising a summation mechanism having a plurality of counters and a plurality of shiftable control elements for each counter, each element being adapted in one position to cause the introduction of one unit into its counter, a plurality of sensing stations each adapted to handle simultaneously a diilerent series of ballots one by one, analyzing means operatively associated with said stations and said control elements and governed by the physical alteration of the ballots are they are handled at said stations to actuate the counter-control elements associated with the particular station in accordance with such marking of the ballot, and means acting in timed relation to the operation of said stations to accumulate in said counters the votes thus set up on said control elements.

4. A vote counting machine for counting votes recorded by physical alteration of ballots, said machine comprising in combination, a. plurality of sensing blocks at each of which a ballot may be positioned, means for moving a series of ballots to each of said blocks one by one, each series being moved to one of said blocks only, independently operable counter control means for each of said blocks, each control means being governed by the marking of the ballots passing the block with which it is associated, a plurality of counters, each of which is controlled by corresponding counter control means of the several sensing blocks, and means for actuating the counters in accordance with said control means and in timed relation to the operation of said ballot moving means.

5. In an automatic machine for counting votes marked on a ballot by physical alteration of said ballot, the combination of a plurality of devices for handling ballots, each of said devices comprising a sensing station at which ballots may be successively positioned, a single registering mechanism having a plurality of counters one for each proposition or candiate on said ballot, control mechanism for said counters operably connected to all of said devices, means for transmitting actuating power impulses from each of said stations to said control means to set said control means, means to actuate said counters in accordance with the setting of said control means, means for returning said control means to inoperative position, and a power driven cam device for actuating said several means in timed relation to each other.

CHARLES SIMEK. 

